Colchester for Groups

Plan a group trip to Colchester to discover a unique mix of the contemporary and historic, with no shortage of nationally important culture and heritage. It's a great place to visit in the East of England.

If you’re organising a group visit to Colchester, here you'll find all the information you need to plan your trip to the town centre and the surrounding area.

We understand that there's a lot to think about when planning group travel. That's why we have provided a number of useful suggestions, tools and downloads to make your group visit to Colchester easy to plan.

Need some advice? Then get in touch with our friendly team and we will help.

Constable Country offers your group a delightful visit to the picturesque villages painted by John Constable. See our suggestions for how to make the best of your visit.

Coach Drop-Off and Parking

Information

For coaches visiting Colchester, there is a designated limited waiting bay at the eastern end of the High Street in the heart of the town centre. The bay operates between 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Saturday with limited waiting time of 15 minutes, and no return within 2 hours. This bay will be of particular benefit to school parties and other groups visitng Colchester Castle Museum. It is located just past Museum Street and after Saxons Estate Agents, which is painted yellow. (postcode CO1 1TH) There is also a pick up and drop off point located on East Hill between St. James the Great Church and Lewis Gardens (which is the entrance to Firstsite Art Gallery) (Postcode: CO1 1UE).

Layover and long stay coach parking is available at Sheepen Road (Postcode: CO3 3LE).

National Trust property, the mill was originally built as a fishing lodge in 1591 and features stepped "Dutch" gables. There is a millpond and some of the machinery, including the waterwheel which is still intact and working.

The Colchester Roman circus (chariot-racing arena) was discovered in 2005. It was built in the early 2nd century AD and seems to have been in use for about 150 years. It is the only known Roman circus in Britain.

A spectacular new venue for contemporary visual arts, firstsite offers a changing programme of exhibitions by international artists, creative events and activities for the whole family, plus talks, films, workshops and more. Entry is free.

Britain's most easterly inhabited island, home to the settlements of East and West Mersea. It is accessed by 'The Strood' - a causeway which at high tide floods, making the island separate from the mainland.

The first English Augustinian priory church, founded at the end of the eleventh century from the Anglo-Saxon minster community of Colchester. Only the ruined remains of the nave survive today, under the care of English Heritage.

Welcome to Manningtree, a gateway to Constable country and more... As England's smallest town - at just over 19 hectares - Manningtree is small but packs in a great deal for residents and visitors alike.